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Each morning, Airica, a seventh-grade student in Kansas City, steps onto the bus, ready to tackle her school day. She says her commute can be chaotic, but remains calm knowing that she’ll be welcomed by a familiar face at school. Airica is tutored and mentored by AJ, a ��ɫ��Ƶ AmeriCorps member. ��ɫ��Ƶ partners with urban schools across the country and helps students get the most out of their time in the classroom–keeping them on track to graduate and equipped with the skills to succeed in college, career and life.

On May 1st, Airica joined AJ and over 350 community and business leaders for ��ɫ��Ƶ Kansas City’s inaugural gala to celebrate the power of idealism. Held at The Abbott in the Crossroads, the event honored ��ɫ��Ƶ’s own AmeriCorps members and their service in schools, as well as 19 Idealists of the Year–Kansas Citians who share ��ɫ��Ƶ’s commitment to making positive change in our community.

The event featured a testimonial by AJ, remarks from ��ɫ��Ƶ Kansas City Board Chair and Chief’s President, Mark Donovan, and a fundraiser to support ��ɫ��Ƶ’s expansion into Whittier Elementary for the 2019-2020 school year. The evening was full of energy and inspiration, as attendees were enthusiastically greeted by 58 cheering ��ɫ��Ƶ AmeriCorps members, Central Academy of Excellence’s student drumline and Northeast Middle School’s cheerleaders.

At the end of the evening, the gala raised $470,000. These funds will support ��ɫ��Ƶ’s expansion and will help sustain the programs that impact thousands of kids in Kansas City’s urban core.   ��ɫ��Ƶ defines idealism as having the courage to change the world. ��ɫ��Ƶ AmeriCorps members — all between the ages of 18 to 25 — embody this value by committing a year of full-time service as a mentor, tutor, and role model to students. With the support of the Kansas City community, young idealists just like AJ will have the opportunity to make an impact on the lives of students, including Airica, year after year.